Control of a user device under wet conditions

ABSTRACT

Various aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to control of a user device under a wet condition. In some aspects, a user device may determine whether the user device is operating under a wet condition; select, based at least in part on whether the user device is operating under the wet condition, a set of input components to control the user device, wherein the set of input components is selected from a plurality of different sets of input components; and configure a user interface of the user device according to the set of input components. Numerous other aspects are provided.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.16/741,571, filed Jan. 13, 2020 (now U.S. Pat. No. 11,394,819), whichclaims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 62/895,955, filed on Sep. 4, 2019, the contents of whichare incorporated by reference herein in their entireties.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

Aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to control of a userdevice and to control of a user device under wet conditions.

BACKGROUND

A user device may include a touchscreen as an input and output device. Auser can provide inputs and/or control information through touching thescreen and/or view information displayed via the touchscreen. Thetouchscreen may be a capacitive touchscreen that detects touches of theuser through changes in capacitance detected by capacitive sensors ofthe touchscreen. Further, the user device may include a fingerprintscanner to obtain an image of a fingerprint of the user to authenticatethe user to permit the user to unlock the user device.

SUMMARY

In some aspects, a method may include determining, by a user device,whether the user device is operating under a wet condition; selecting,by the user device and based at least in part on whether the user deviceis operating under the wet condition, a set of input components tocontrol the user device, wherein the set of input components is selectedfrom a plurality of different sets of input components; and configuring,by the user device, a user interface of the user device according to theset of input components.

In some aspects, a user device may include a user interface thatincludes an ultrasonic sensor and a fingerprint scanner; one or morememories; and one or more processors, the one or more memories and theone or more processors configured to: determine whether the user deviceis potentially operating under a wet condition; configure, based atleast in part on whether the user device is potentially operating underthe wet condition, the ultrasonic sensor to receive an ultrasonicmeasurement to detect when a user is attempting to unlock the userdevice; and cause, based at least in part on receiving the ultrasonicmeasurement indicating that the user is attempting to unlock the userdevice, the fingerprint scanner to enable an authentication process tobe performed based at least in part on a scan of a finger of the user.

In some aspects, a non-transitory computer-readable medium may store oneor more instructions. The one or more instructions, when executed by oneor more processors of a user device, may cause the one or moreprocessors to: determine that the user device is operating under a wetcondition; select, based at least in part on the user device operatingunder the wet condition, a set of input components to control the userdevice, wherein the set of input components are selected from aplurality of different sets of input components of the user device; andconfigure a user interface of the user device to operate in accordancewith inputs from the set of input components.

In some aspects, an apparatus may include means for determining whethera user device is operating under a wet condition; means for configuring,when the user device is determined to be operating under the wetcondition, a user interface of the user device to be controlled usingfirst information from a first set of input components; and means forconfiguring, when the user device is determined to not be operatingunder the wet condition, the user interface to be controlled usingsecond information from a second set of input components that isdifferent from the first set of input components.

Aspects generally include a method, apparatus, system, computer programproduct, non-transitory computer-readable medium, user device, wirelesscommunication device, and/or processing system as substantiallydescribed with reference to and as illustrated by the drawings andspecification.

The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technicaladvantages of examples according to the disclosure in order that thedetailed description that follows may be better understood. Additionalfeatures and advantages will be described hereinafter. The conceptionand specific examples disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis formodifying or designing other structures for carrying out the samepurposes of the present disclosure. Such equivalent constructions do notdepart from the scope of the appended claims. Characteristics of theconcepts disclosed herein, both their organization and method ofoperation, together with associated advantages will be better understoodfrom the following description when considered in connection with theaccompanying figures. Each of the figures is provided for the purposesof illustration and description, and not as a definition of the limitsof the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

So that the above-recited features of the present disclosure can beunderstood in detail, a more particular description, briefly summarizedabove, may be had by reference to aspects, some of which are illustratedin the appended drawings. It is to be noted, however, that the appendeddrawings illustrate only certain typical aspects of this disclosure andare therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, for thedescription may admit to other equally effective aspects. The samereference numbers in different drawings may identify the same or similarelements.

FIG. 1 is a diagram conceptually illustrating an example system in whichdevices and/or methods described herein may be implemented, inaccordance with various aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a diagram conceptually illustrating example components of oneor more devices shown in FIG. 1 , such as a user device, in accordancewith various aspects of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 3A, 3B and 4-6 are diagrams conceptually illustrating one or moreexamples associated with controlling a user device under wet conditionsin accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 7-10 are diagrams illustrating example processes performed, forexample, by a user device, in accordance with various aspects of thepresent disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Various aspects of the disclosure are described more fully hereinafterwith reference to the accompanying drawings. This disclosure may,however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construedas limited to any specific structure or function presented throughoutthis disclosure. Rather, these aspects are provided so that thisdisclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey thescope of the disclosure to those skilled in the art. Based at least inpart on the teachings herein one skilled in the art should appreciatethat the scope of the disclosure is intended to cover any aspect of thedisclosure disclosed herein, whether implemented independently of orcombined with any other aspect of the disclosure. For example, anapparatus may be implemented or a method may be practiced using anynumber of the aspects set forth herein. In addition, the scope of thedisclosure is intended to cover such an apparatus or method which ispracticed using other structure, functionality, or structure andfunctionality in addition to or other than the various aspects of thedisclosure set forth herein. It should be understood that any aspect ofthe disclosure disclosed herein may be embodied by one or more elementsof a claim.

In many instances, a user device (e.g., a user equipment, a smartphone,a tablet computer, and/or the like) may utilize a capacitive touchsensor to detect a user attempting to unlock the user device. Forexample, the capacitive touch sensor may be associated with atouchscreen and/or another user interface (e.g., a button) of the userdevice. The capacitive touch sensor may provide a measurement and/orinformation that can be analyzed to detect and/or identify a finger of auser. The capacitive touch sensor may be associated with a fingerprintscanner (e.g., and optical fingerprint scanner) that is configured toobtain an image of a detected fingerprint of the user. The detectedfingerprint can then be used to verify the user and/or unlock the userdevice.

However, such capacitive touch sensors may be ineffective when theuser's finger is wet (e.g., includes droplets of water, sweat, or otherliquids) and/or when the user device (or at least the capacitive touchsensor of the user device) is submerged in a liquid (e.g., underwater)due to the presence of the liquid affecting the measured capacitance ofthe capacitive touch sensor. Some previous techniques may include aforce sensor to detect an amount of force of a user's touch to detectthe user. Including such a force sensor within a user device adds coststo the user device, requires an increased thickness of the user device(which can be undesirable), and increases complexity of designing theuser device due to the force sensors occupying valuable real estatewithin a limited housing space of the user device.

Furthermore, the user device may include a camera that the user may wantto use underwater (or under any other type of liquid). However, in orderto access the camera, the user may have to unlock the user device and/orprovide a user input via the capacitive touch sensor of the user device.Furthermore, in order to control the camera (e.g., to capture an image,a video, and/or the like), the user may have to utilize the capacitivetouch sensor (e.g., one or more user interface elements of atouchscreen) to control the camera. Accordingly, in view of the above,the user may be unable to access and/or control the camera while theuser device is underwater without first unlocking the user device abovewater (and keeping the user device unlocked) and/or configuring controlsof the camera while above water.

However, such actions may not be possible (e.g., because the user deviceis taken underwater without the actions being performed) and/or may beineffective (e.g., because the user device may become locked underwaterafter the user device is idle for a period of time), whichcorrespondingly degrades a user experience associated with using theuser device underwater. Similar to accessing and/or controlling a cameraas described above, the user may want to use and/or control otherfeatures or components of the user device underwater that involve usinga capacitive touch sensor. For example, the user may want to activate alight emitting diode (LED) to serve as a spotlight or flashlight, adjustthe touchscreen (e.g., a brightness of a display of the touchscreen, asensitivity of the touchscreen, and/or the like) of the user device(and/or another type of display of the user device), adjust a speakersetting (e.g., a volume of the speaker, a mute setting of the speaker,and/or the like), and/or control any other type of function of the userdevice.

Some aspects described herein enable a user to unlock and/or control auser device under wet conditions. As used herein, the user device beingin a wet condition and/or operating in a wet condition may correspond tothe user device being submerged in a liquid, receiving a user input froma user with a wet finger (or other body part), and/or the like. In someaspects, a user device may include an ultrasonic sensor for userdetection (e.g., that is capable of detecting a user's finger). Theultrasonic sensor be configured to operate as a passive sensor (e.g.,that uses piezoelectric properties of the ultrasonic sensor to detectthe user via detected vibrations corresponding to user inputs and/oruser interactions with the user device) and/or as an active sensor(e.g., that transmits ultrasonic signals and analyzes reflectedultrasonic signals to detect a user).

Furthermore, in some aspects, the user device may automatically selectwhich input components (and/or configurations of input components) ofthe user device are to be used to unlock and/or receive a user input tocontrol the user device (and/or a component or function of the userdevice, such as a camera, an LED, a display, and/or the like). Forexample, the user device may determine whether the user device isunderwater. In such a case, if the user device is determined to beoperating under a wet condition (e.g., using a pressure sensor, a liquidsensor or hydrometer, a gas sensor, and/or the like), the user devicemay use the ultrasonic sensor to detect the user (e.g., detect a touchof the user) to unlock the user device and/or receive a user input tocontrol the user device. On the other hand, if the user device isdetermined to not be operating under a wet condition, the user devicemay use a capacitive touch sensor to unlock and/or receive a user inputto control the user device.

In this way, a user device is provided that can include one or moresensors and/or components to permit a user to unlock and/or control auser device under wet conditions. Accordingly, a user device, asdescribed herein, may reduce consumption of computing resources of auser device relative to previous techniques (e.g., resources attemptingto use a capacitive touch sensor to detect a user's finger under wetconditions) and improve a user experience of using the user device underwet conditions. Furthermore, a user interface of a user device, asdescribed herein, may not require use of a force sensor to detect auser, thus reducing costs and/or complexity of previous user devicesthat utilize a force sensor to detect a finger of a user.

FIG. 1 is a diagram conceptually illustrating an example system 100 inwhich devices and/or methods described herein may be implemented, inaccordance with various aspects of the present disclosure. As shown inFIG. 1 , system 100 may include a user device 110, a wirelesscommunication device 120, and/or a network 130. Devices of system 100may interconnect via wired connections, wireless connections, or acombination of wired and wireless connections.

User device 110 includes one or more devices capable of including one ormore input components associated with a user interface to enable controlof user device 110 under wet conditions, as described herein. Forexample, user device 110 may include one or more devices capable ofreceiving, generating, storing, processing, and/or providing informationassociated with one or more sensors (e.g., capacitive touch sensors,accelerometers, piezoelectric sensors, ultrasonic sensors, and/or thelike) for detecting a user described herein. More specifically, userdevice 110 may include a communication and/or computing device thatincludes a capacitive touch interface (e.g., a touchscreen, a capacitivetouch button, and/or the like), such as a user equipment (e.g., asmartphone, a radiotelephone, and/or the like), a laptop computer, atablet computer, a handheld computer, a wearable communication device(e.g., a smart wristwatch, a pair of smart eyeglasses, and/or the like),a home security system (e.g., with a touch controlled security panel), ahome appliance, a vehicle (e.g., which capacitive touch controlleddoors, consoles, and/or the like), a payment terminal, an Internet ofThings (IoT) device, or any other similar type of device. As describedherein, user device 110 (and/or a user detection module of user device110) may be used to detect, analyze, and/or perform one or moreoperations associated with detecting whether user device 110 isoperating under a wet condition, detecting a user and/or a user input inthe wet condition, and/or performing an action associated with detectingthe user and/or user input, as described herein.

Similar to user device 110, wireless communication device 120 includesone or more devices capable of receiving, generating, storing,processing, and/or providing information associated with a user inputand/or user interaction described herein. For example, wirelesscommunication device 120 may include a base station, an access point,and/or the like. Additionally, or alternatively, similar to user device110, wireless communication device 120 may include a communicationand/or computing device, such as a mobile phone (e.g., a smart phone, aradiotelephone, and/or the like), a laptop computer, a tablet computer,a handheld computer, a desktop computer, a gaming device, a wearablecommunication device (e.g., a smart wristwatch, a pair of smarteyeglasses, and/or the like), or a similar type of device.

Network 130 includes one or more wired and/or wireless networks. Forexample, network 130 may include a cellular network (e.g., a long-termevolution (LTE) network, a code division multiple access (CDMA) network,a 3G network, a 4G network, a 5G network, another type of nextgeneration network, and/or the like), a public land mobile network(PLMN), a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), ametropolitan area network (MAN), a telephone network (e.g., the PublicSwitched Telephone Network (PSTN)), a private network, an ad hocnetwork, an intranet, the Internet, a fiber optic-based network, a cloudcomputing network, or the like, and/or a combination of these or othertypes of networks. In some aspects, network 130 may include a datanetwork and/or be communicatively with a data platform (e.g., aweb-platform, a cloud-based platform, a non-cloud-based platform, and/orthe like) that is capable of receiving, generating, processing, and/orproviding information associated with a user input and/or userinteraction detected and/or analyzed by user device 110.

The number and arrangement of devices and networks shown in FIG. 1 areprovided as one or more examples. In practice, there may be additionaldevices and/or networks, fewer devices and/or networks, differentdevices and/or networks, or differently arranged devices and/or networksthan those shown in FIG. 1 . Furthermore, two or more devices shown inFIG. 1 may be implemented within a single device, or a single deviceshown in FIG. 1 may be implemented as multiple, distributed devices.Additionally, or alternatively, a set of devices (e.g., one or moredevices) of system 100 may perform one or more functions described asbeing performed by another set of devices of system 100.

FIG. 2 is a diagram of example components of a device 200. Device 200may correspond to user device 110 and/or wireless communication device120. Additionally, or alternatively, user device 110, and/or wirelesscommunication device 120 may include one or more devices 200 and/or oneor more components of device 200. As shown in FIG. 2 , device 200 mayinclude a bus 205, a processor 210, a memory 215, a storage component220, an input component 225, an output component 230, a communicationinterface 235, one or more sensors 240 (referred to individually as a“sensor 240” and collectively as “sensors 240”), and a fingerprintscanner 245.

Bus 205 includes a component that permits communication among thecomponents of device 200. Processor 210 includes a central processingunit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), an accelerated processingunit (APU), a digital signal processor (DSP), a microprocessor, amicrocontroller, a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), anapplication-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), and/or another type ofprocessing component. Processor 210 is implemented in hardware,firmware, or a combination of hardware and software. In some aspects,processor 210 includes one or more processors capable of beingprogrammed to perform a function.

Memory 215 includes a random-access memory (RAM), a read only memory(ROM), and/or another type of dynamic or static storage device (e.g., aflash memory, a magnetic memory, and/or an optical memory) that storesinformation and/or instructions for use by processor 210.

Storage component 220 stores information and/or software related to theoperation and use of device 200. For example, storage component 220 mayinclude a hard disk (e.g., a magnetic disk, an optical disk, amagneto-optic disk, and/or a solid-state disk), a compact disc (CD), adigital versatile disc (DVD), a floppy disk, a cartridge, a magnetictape, and/or another type of non-transitory computer-readable medium,along with a corresponding drive.

Input component 225 includes a component that permits device 200 toreceive information, such as via user input. For example, inputcomponent 225 may be associated with a user interface as describedherein (e.g., to permit a user to interact with the one or more featuresof device 200). Input component 225 includes a capacitive touchscreendisplay that can receive user inputs. Input component 225 may include akeyboard, a keypad, a mouse, a button, a switch, a microphone, and/orthe like. Additionally, or alternatively, input component 225 mayinclude a sensor for sensing information (e.g., a vision sensor, alocation sensor, an accelerometer, a gyroscope, an actuator, and/or thelike). In some aspects, input component 225 may include a camera (e.g.,a high-resolution camera, a low-resolution camera, and/or the like). Insome aspects, input component 225 may include correspond to, and/or beassociated with one or more of sensors 240. As described herein, aconfiguration of input component 225 may be selected according towhether device 200 (e.g., as user device 110) is operating under (or in)a wet condition. Output component 230 includes a component that providesoutput from device 200 (e.g., a display, a speaker, one or morelight-emitting diodes (LEDs), and/or the like).

Communication interface 235 includes a transceiver and/or a separatereceiver and transmitter that enables device 200 to communicate withother devices, such as via a wired connection, a wireless connection, ora combination of wired and wireless connections. Communication interface235 may permit device 200 to receive information from another deviceand/or provide information to another device. For example, communicationinterface 235 may include an Ethernet interface, an optical interface, acoaxial interface, an infrared interface, a radio frequency (RF)interface, a universal serial bus (USB) interface, a Wi-Fi interface, acellular network interface, a wireless modem, an inter-integratedcircuit (I²C), a serial peripheral interface (SPI), or the like.

Sensor 240 includes one or more devices capable of sensingcharacteristics associated with device 200 (e.g., characteristic of aphysical environment or operating condition of device 200). Sensor 240may include one or more integrated circuits (e.g., on a packaged silicondie) and/or one or more passive components of one or more flex circuitsto enable communication with one or more components of device 200.

Sensor 240 may include a vision sensor (e.g., an image sensor, anoptical sensor, a camera, and/or the like) that has a field of view fromwhich sensor 240 may obtain an image (e.g., an image of a fingerprint).Additionally, or alternatively, sensor 240 may include a hydrometer(e.g., to detect the presence or density of a liquid in an environmentof device 200), a magnetometer (e.g., a Hall effect sensor, ananisotropic magnetoresistive (AMR) sensor, a giant magneto-resistivesensor (GMR), and/or the like), a location sensor (e.g., a globalpositioning system (GPS) receiver, a local positioning system (LPS)device (e.g., that uses triangulation, multi-lateration, and/or thelike), and/or the like), a gyroscope (e.g., a micro-electro-mechanicalsystems (MEMS) gyroscope or a similar type of device), an accelerometer,a speed sensor, a motion sensor, an infrared sensor, a temperaturesensor, a pressure sensor, a gas sensor, and/or the like.

Sensor 240 may include an ultrasonic sensor to detect the presence of auser and/or be used in association with ultrasonic fingerprintdetection. In some aspects, the ultrasonic sensor may be used byfingerprint scanner 245 to obtain an ultrasonic measurement of afingerprint of a user. As described herein, an ultrasonic sensor, as apassive sensor, may detect and/or analyze vibrations from a user thatcan be used to passively detect the user based at least in part onpiezoelectric properties of the ultrasonic sensor (e.g., withouttransmitting an ultrasonic signal). An ultrasonic sensor, as an activeultrasonic sensor, may transmit an ultrasonic signal and receive acorresponding reflected ultrasonic signal that can be measured todetermine whether the user's finger is on (or near) the user device, atouchscreen of the user device, and/or a fingerprint scanner of the userdevice.

Fingerprint scanner 245 includes one or more devices capable ofanalyzing a fingerprint of a user. Fingerprint scanner 245 may beassociated with and/or communicatively coupled with one or more ofsensors 240. Fingerprint scanner 245 may include and/or be associatedwith an optical sensor, a capacitive touch sensor, an ultrasonic sensor,a thermal sensor, and/or the like. Fingerprint scanner 245 may beconfigured, using any suitable technique, as a user authenticationdevice to analyze a fingerprint of a user to determine whether the useris an authorized user of device 200 and/or an application associatedwith device 200. Accordingly, as an authentication device, fingerprintscanner 245 may, based at least in part on identifying a fingerprint ofan authorized user, may permit an unlock operation of the user device tobe performed (e.g., to access an application of the user device, toaccess a home screen of the user device, to log in to an accountassociated with the user, and/or the like).

Device 200 may perform one or more processes described herein. Device200 may perform these processes in response to processor 210 executingsoftware instructions stored by a non-transitory computer-readablemedium, such as memory 215 and/or storage component 220.“Computer-readable medium” as used herein refers to a non-transitorymemory device. A memory device includes memory space within a singlephysical storage device or memory space spread across multiple physicalstorage devices.

Software instructions may be read into memory 215 and/or storagecomponent 220 from another computer-readable medium or from anotherdevice via communication interface 235. When executed, softwareinstructions stored in memory 215 and/or storage component 220 may causeprocessor 210 to perform one or more processes described herein.Additionally, or alternatively, hardwired circuitry may be used in placeof or in combination with software instructions to perform one or moreprocesses described herein. Thus, aspects described herein are notlimited to any specific combination of hardware circuitry and software.

In some aspects, device 200 includes means for performing one or moreprocesses described herein and/or means for performing one or moreoperations of the processes described herein. For example, the means forperforming the processes and/or operations described herein may includebus 205, processor 210, memory 215, storage component 220, inputcomponent 225, output component 230, communication interface 235, sensor240, and/or any combination thereof.

The number and arrangement of components shown in FIG. 2 are provided asan example. In practice, device 200 may include additional components,fewer components, different components, or differently arrangedcomponents than those shown in FIG. 2 . Additionally, or alternatively,a set of components (e.g., one or more components) of device 200 mayperform one or more functions described as being performed by anotherset of components of device 200.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are diagrams conceptually illustrating an example 300associated with control of a user device 302 under wet conditions inaccordance with various aspects of the present disclosure. In example300, user device 302 (which may correspond to user device 110 of FIG. 1) includes a touchscreen 304 (e.g., that includes an array of capacitivetouch sensors) and a fingerprint scanner 306 that utilizes informationfrom the touchscreen to detect a finger of a user and/or analyze afingerprint of the user. For example, as shown in FIG. 3A, through atouch action of the user (represented by a hand of the user and/orfinger of the user in FIGS. 3A and 3B) may provide a user input bytouching or pressing the finger of the user on the touchscreen (e.g., toselect a camera function under dry conditions) and/or fingerprintscanner (e.g., to permit the user device to authenticate the user) thatcan be detected and/or in accordance with various aspects of thisdisclosure. While user device 302 is shown as a smartphone in example300, some aspects described herein may similarly apply to other types ofdevices (e.g., one or more of the example devices described above inconnection with user device 110) that include and/or utilize user touchdetection.

As shown in example 300, a user may be operating (e.g., performing thetouch action) the user device under one or more wet conditions. Forexample, as shown by reference number 308, the user may operate the userdevice under water (referred to herein as “underwater condition 308”).More specifically, the user may operate the user device while swimmingwith the user device, while using the user device to capture underwaterimages, and/or the like. As another example, as shown by referencenumber 310, the user may be operating the user device with a wet finger(referred to herein as “wet-finger condition 310”), which may causesensor moisture on touchscreen 304. The finger and/or sensor may beconsidered wet when moisture (e.g., droplets of water, sweat, and/orother liquids) is present on the finger and/or the sensor.

Under the wet conditions 308, 310 illustrated in example 300, userdevice 302 may be unable to accurately detect a user input viacapacitive touch sensors of the touchscreen 304 and/or fingerprintscanner 306 because physical properties of the water and/or moisturedistort and/or affect the capacitance that can be measured from theuser's finger (e.g., due to physical properties of the water and/ormoisture having a level of capacitance). Accordingly, the user device,in example 300 may be incapable of using the capacitive touch sensors ofthe user device to detect the user's touch action and/or,correspondingly, to accurately determine a user input associated with auser's touch on the touchscreen and/or fingerprint scanner.

As shown in FIG. 3B, a cross-sectional view of user device 302 showsthat user device 302 includes a capacitive touch sensor layer 312. Asshown, fingerprint scanner 306 may be positioned within and/or beadjacent to capacitive touch sensor layer 312. Capacitive touch sensorlayer 312 may include a plurality of electrodes (e.g., capacitive senseelectrodes, capacitive micromachined ultrasonic sensors (CMUTs), and/orthe like) for detecting finger position, finger proximity, and/or thelike relative to a perimeter of touchscreen 304.

As further shown in FIG. 3B, user device 302 may include an ultrasonicsensor 314 that includes a piezoelectric element 316 and an ultrasonicsensor array 318. Piezoelectric element 316 may include any suitablepiezoelectric material (e.g., a copolymer) that has piezoelectricproperties to detect vibrations associated with a user touching (ortapping) user device 302. More specifically, piezoelectric element 316may include ferroelectric polymers such as polyvinylidene fluoride(PVDF) and polyvinylidene fluoride-trifluoroethylene (PVDF-TrFE)copolymers, polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC) homopolymers and copolymers,polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) homopolymers and copolymers, anddiisopropylammonium bromide (DIPAB).

Piezoelectric element 316 may serve as an ultrasonic transmitter thattransmits ultrasonic signals to actively detect that the user istouching touchscreen 304 and/or fingerprint scanner 306. Ultrasonicsensor array 318 may include one or more sensing elements and/orassociated electronics (e.g., within a thin film transistor (TFT)) thatare capable of detecting and/or receiving reflected ultrasound signalsassociated with transmitted ultrasound signals from piezoelectricelement 316. According to some implementations, ultrasonic sensory array318 may be communicatively coupled and/or associated with sensingelements of fingerprint scanner 306 to enable detection and/or locationof the finger relative to a perimeter of fingerprint scanner 306.

As described herein, based at least in part on the user device 302operating under a wet condition, ultrasonic sensor 314 may be utilizedto permit the user to perform an operation associated with user device302. For example, an ultrasonic controller 320, based at least in parton determining and/or receiving instructions indicating the user device302 is operating under a wet condition, may configure ultrasonic sensor314 to monitor for and/or detect a user's finger, determine a positionof a user's finger, and/or determine a user input based at least in parton one or more user interactions (e.g., one or more touch actions ortaps) with the user's finger.

As indicated above, FIGS. 3A and 3B are provided merely as one or moreexamples. Other examples may differ from what is described with regardto FIGS. 3A and 3B.

FIG. 4 is a diagram conceptually illustrating an example 400 associatedwith controlling a user device under wet conditions in accordance withvarious aspects of the present disclosure. In FIG. 4 , a user interfaceof a user device may be configured to detect a user (or a finger of auser) using a wet condition detection module and/or an ultrasonic fingerdetection module. The wet condition detection module and/or ultrasonicfinger detection module may be modules associated with and/or includedwithin ultrasonic controller 320 of FIG. 3 .

As shown in FIG. 4 , and by reference number 410, the wet conditiondetection module detects a wet condition status based at least in parton sensor information and input component information. For example, thewet condition detection module may determine whether the user device(e.g., user device 110 and/or user device 302) is operating under a wetcondition, potentially operating under a wet condition, or is notoperating under a wet condition.

In some aspects, the wet condition detection module may determine thatthe user device is operating a under a wet condition based at least inpart on a liquid density measurement of a hydrometer of the user device.For example, if the liquid density measurement satisfies a thresholdindicating that the user device is underwater and/or is being exposed tomoisture (e.g., from a wet finger of a user), the wet conditiondetection module may indicate to the ultrasonic finger detection modulethat the user device is operating under a wet condition.

Additionally, or alternatively, the wet condition detection module maydetermine that the user device is operating under a wet condition basedat least in part on capacitive touch sensors of the touchscreenmeasuring a capacitance that is outside of a threshold difference of abaseline capacitance (e.g., a capacitance corresponding to the userdevice operating under a dry condition). Furthermore, the wet conditiondetection module may determine whether the user device is operating inan underwater condition or a wet-finger condition based at least in parton a quantity of the capacitive touch sensors that detect the thresholddifference. For example, if more than a threshold percentage (e.g., morethan 25%, more than 50%, more than 80%, and/or the like) of thecapacitive touch sensors indicate a capacitance that is outside of athreshold distance from the baseline capacitance, the wet conditiondetection module may determine that the user device is operating in anunderwater condition, and if the less the threshold percentage of thecapacitive touch sensors indicate a capacitance that is outside of thethreshold difference from the baseline capacitance, the wet conditiondetection module may determine that the user device is operating under awet-finger condition. However, if the capacitive touch sensors of thetouchscreen indicate a capacitance that is within a threshold differenceof the baseline capacitance (e.g., while the user device is beinghandled by the user as determined from motion detection of anaccelerometer), the wet condition detection module may determine thatthe user device is not operating under a wet condition.

According to some aspects, the wet condition detection module maydetermine that the user device is not operating under one or more wetconditions based at least in part on an operating condition of the userdevice. For example, if the user device is communicatively coupled to aperipheral (e.g., an input component and/or power source) via acommunication interface (e.g., a universal serial bus (USB)), the wetcondition detection module may determine that the user device is notoperating under a wet condition and/or a particular wet condition (e.g.,a user device communicatively coupled with a power source to charge abattery of the user device is likely not under water).

As shown by reference number 420 of FIG. 4 , the ultrasonic fingerdetection module is to perform ultrasonic finger detection according tothe wet condition status received from the wet condition detectionmodule. As shown, the ultrasonic finger detection module may utilize anultrasonic analysis module that is to perform passive finger detectionand/or active finger detection. Passive finger detection may beperformed, as described herein, based at least in part on receivingpassive acoustic measurements from an ultrasonic sensor (e.g.,measurements associated with piezoelectric element 316) that indicatevibrations of the user device and/or other components of the user devicethat represent a finger touching or tapping the user device. Suchvibrations may be represented in a reference mapping of acousticmeasurements that represent particular user interactions (e.g., taps,presses, shakes, and/or the like) of the user device under certainconditions (e.g., under wet conditions, under dry conditions, and/or thelike). Using the reference mapping and the passive acoustic measurementsof the ultrasonic sensor, the ultrasonic analysis module may passivelydetect that a user's finger is interacting with the user device.

As described herein, active finger detection may be performed by causingthe ultrasonic sensor to transmit (e.g., using piezoelectric element316) ultrasonic signals and analyze reflected ultrasonic signals (e.g.,received by ultrasonic sensor array 318) to determine, according to ananalysis of the reflected ultrasonic signals, whether a finger istouching the touchscreen and/or fingerprint scanner of the user device.The active ultrasonic analysis may include any suitable technique thatis based at least in part on a difference between the transmittedultrasonic signal and the received reflected acoustic signal. Forexample, a presence of reflected ultrasonic signals and/or spatialvariations in the reflected ultrasonic signals may indicate the presenceof a finger of the user, a distance between the finger and theultrasonic sensor, and/or the like. On the contrary, an absence ofreflected ultrasonic signals and/or variations in the reflected signalmay indicate that no finger is present.

In some aspects, because active finger detection may consume moreresources of the user device (e.g., processing resources, memoryresources, and/or power resources associated with transmitting anultrasonic signal and/or processing a received reflected ultrasonicsignal), the ultrasonic analysis module may use passive finger detectionto trigger when to perform active finger detection (so that an activefinger detection is not being performed when the user does not have afinger on the fingerprint scanner or other part of the user device). Forexample, the reference mapping may include a reference passive acousticmeasurement that corresponds to the user tapping and/or touching thefingerprint scanner (e.g., an action that corresponds to a user input tounlock the user device). In such a case, when a passive acousticmeasurement is received that matches (e.g., within a threshold) thatreference passive acoustic measurement, the ultrasonic analysis modulemay detect that the user is likely attempting to unlock the user device.

Additionally, or alternatively, under certain conditions, passive fingerdetection may be bypassed (e.g., to conserve processing resources,memory resources, and/or power resources and/or to have increased signalquality or signal-integrity as quantified by signal to noise ratio, forbetter detection) according to the wet condition status and/or otheroperating condition of the user device. For example, passive fingerdetection may be bypassed when a display of the touchscreen is activated(e.g., indicating that the user recently interacted with the userdevice), when the user device is being activated or initially poweredon, when the user device is connected to a power source, and/or thelike. In this way, based at least in part on the wet condition statusand/or operating condition of the user device, the ultrasonic analysismodule may bypass passive finger detection when the passive fingerdetection is unlikely to indicate the presence of a user's finger (e.g.,because the user is not likely to be tapping of the user device, becausethe user has indicated an interaction with the user device that did notinvolve a tapping of the user device) and/or when power resources of theuser device do not need to be conserved (e.g., because the user deviceis being charged via a power source).

As shown by reference number 430 of FIG. 4 , when the ultrasonicanalysis module (e.g., using passive finger detection and/or activefinger detection) detects that the user has positioned a finger over thefingerprint scanner (e.g., under a wet condition and/or dry condition),the ultrasonic analysis module may cause the fingerprint scanner to scanthe fingerprint of the user to authenticate the user. In some aspects,the fingerprint scanner, as an optical scanner, may scan the finger ofthe user to obtain an image of a fingerprint of the user. For example,although the user device may be operating under a wet condition, if theuser's finger is pressed against the fingerprint scanner, thefingerprint scanner can obtain an image of the fingerprint to enable thefingerprint scanner to authenticate the user (e.g., for an unlockoperation and/or a log in operation of the user device).

In this way, the wet condition detection module and/or wet fingerdetection module may be utilized to detect the presence of a finger of auser over a fingerprint scanner of a user device and correspondinglycause the fingerprint scanner to authenticate the user and/or enable anunlock operation of the user device to be performed when the user deviceis operating under a wet condition.

As indicated above, FIG. 4 is provided merely as one or more examples.Other examples may differ from what is described with regard to FIG. 4 .

FIG. 5 is a diagram conceptually illustrating an example 500 associatedwith controlling a user device under wet conditions in accordance withvarious aspects of the present disclosure. Example 500 may correspond toa process performed by user device 110 and/or user device 302 to detecta finger of user and/or receive a user input from the user. As shown inFIG. 5 , finger detection may be performed based at least in part onwhether the user device is operating under a wet condition.

As shown by reference number 510, the user device may determine whethera wet condition has been detected (e.g., using wet condition detectionmodule as described in connection with FIG. 4 ). If the user devicedetermines that the user device detects that the user device isoperating under a wet condition, as indicated by reference number 520,the user device may perform ultrasonic finger detection to determinewhether a user is interacting with the user device (e.g., detecttouching fingerprint scanner 306 using active finger detection, detecttapping on touchscreen 304 using passive finger detection, and/or thelike). In this way, the user device may detect a finger of the userand/or a user input under a wet condition.

On the other hand, if the user device does not detect a wet condition(and/or detects a dry condition), as indicated by reference number 530,the user device may perform a capacitive touch finger detection todetermine whether a user is interacting with the user device. Forexample, the capacitive touch finger detection may utilize thecapacitive touch sensors of the touchscreen 304 and/or fingerprintscanner 306 to detect a finger of the user. The capacitive touch sensorsmay utilize and/or require fewer computing resources and/or powerresources relative to ultrasonic sensor 314. In this way, the userdevice may utilize the capacitive touch sensors of the user device asinput components to detect a finger in order to conserve powerassociated with detecting a user under a non-wet condition.

As shown by reference number 540, after a user's finger is detected, theuser device may perform a fingerprint analysis to authenticate the user.In this way, a user device may select which input components and/orsensors are to be utilized to detect a finger of a user and/or cause afingerprint scanner to perform an authentication of the user.

According to some implementations, the user device may select whichinput components are to be utilized to enable the user to interact withthe user device. For example, under a wet condition, the user device mayconfigure one set of input components of a user interface to operate afunction of the user device, and under a dry condition, the user devicemay configure a different set of input components to operate thefunction of the user device. More specifically, if the user device isdetermined to be in a wet condition and a camera function of the userdevice has been selected according to a user input, volume buttonsassociated with a speaker output of the user device may be utilized tocontrol a zoom feature of the camera function. In contrast, if the userdevice is determined to not be in a wet condition and the camerafunction of the user device has been selected, the capacitive touchsensors of the touchscreen may be used to control the zoom feature.Additionally, or alternatively, a same set of input components of theuser device may operate differently based at least in part on whetherthe user device is determined to be operating under a wet condition or adry condition. For example, the user device may configure the volumebuttons to control a camera function and/or flashlight function (e.g.,according to a user input selecting the camera function or theflashlight function) of the user device when the user device isoperating under water. Further, in such an example, the user device mayconfigure the volume buttons to increase or decrease a speaker volumewhen the user device is determined to not be operating under a wetcondition.

As indicated above, FIG. 5 is provided merely as one or more examples.Other examples may differ from what is described with regard to FIG. 5 .

FIG. 6 is a diagram conceptually illustrating an example 600 associatedwith controlling a user device under wet conditions in accordance withvarious aspects of the present disclosure. In example 600, a statemachine is shown to illustrate how a function of a user device (e.g.,user device 110 and/or user device 302) may be controlled using anultrasonic sensor when the user device is determined to be in a wetcondition, as described herein.

As mentioned above, one or more input components of the user device maybe configured based at least in part on whether the user device isdetermined to be operating under a wet condition. In such a case, theinput components, which may include sensors, such as piezoelectricelement 316, may be configured to detect user inputs according to thecondition of the user device. For example, a user input mapping of tapsequences for certain controls and/or commands may be configured tooperate and/or control a function of a user device when the user deviceis in a wet condition.

As an example, the user device may determine that the user device isoperating under a wet condition and that a camera function has beenactivated (e.g., according to a user input and/or tap sequence). In suchan example, the user device may use the state machine of example 600 tocontrol the camera function. More specifically, the user device maymonitor piezoelectric element 316 to detect vibrations that areindicative of a user tapping (and/or performing a tap sequencecorresponding to a user input of the camera function) the user device tocontrol the camera function of the user device. Accordingly, the usermay control a camera function of the user device according to tapsequences that are detected by the user device using the ultrasonicsensor.

In example 600, as shown by reference number 610, the camera functionmay be in a still image mode. When the user device detects (e.g., viapiezoelectric element 316) a double tap of the user device from the user(e.g., on the touchscreen and/or other component of the user device),the user device may cause the camera to capture a still image, as shownby reference number 620. Furthermore, if the user device is in stillimage mode and detects a single tap of the user device from the user,the user device may change an operation of the camera function to videomode, as shown by reference number 630.

When in video mode, if the user device detects a double tap, the userdevice may cause the camera to capture video, as shown by referencenumber 640. Further, if the user device detects a single tap, the userdevice may return the camera function to still image mode. Accordingly,a first tap sequence (“single tap”) may be utilized by the user (bytapping the user device) and user device (by detecting vibrations of asingle tap sensed by piezoelectric element 316) to control a mode of thecamera function and a second tap sequence (“double tap”) to control anexecution of the camera function. Various other tap sequences may beutilized to control operations of the camera function and/or similar tapsequence may be used to control other functions of the user device.

As indicated above, FIG. 6 is provided merely as one or more examples.Other examples may differ from what is described with regard to FIG. 6 .

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example process 700 performed, forexample, by a user device, in accordance with various aspects of thepresent disclosure. Example process 700 is an example where the userdevice (e.g., user device 110 and/or the like) performs operationsassociated with control under wet conditions.

As shown in FIG. 7 , in some aspects, process 700 may includedetermining whether the user device is operating under a wet condition(block 710). For example, the user device (e.g., using processor 210,memory 215, storage component 220, input component 225, output component230, communication interface 235, sensor 240, fingerprint scanner 245,and/or the like) may determine whether the user device is operatingunder a wet condition, as described above.

As further shown in FIG. 7 , in some aspects, process 700 may includeselecting, based at least in part on whether the user device isoperating under the wet condition, a set of input components to controlthe user device, wherein the set of input components is selected from aplurality of different sets of input components (block 720). Forexample, the user device (e.g., using processor 210, memory 215, storagecomponent 220, input component 225, output component 230, communicationinterface 235, sensor 240, fingerprint scanner 245, and/or the like) mayselect, based at least in part on whether the user device is operatingunder the wet condition, a set of input components to control the userdevice, as described above. In some aspects, the set of input componentsis selected from a plurality of different sets of input components.

As further shown in FIG. 7 , in some aspects, process 700 may includeconfiguring a user interface of the user device according to the set ofinput components (block 730). For example, the user device (e.g., usingprocessor 210, memory 215, storage component 220, input component 225,output component 230, communication interface 235, sensor 240,fingerprint scanner 245, and/or the like) may configure a user interfaceof the user device according to the set of input components, asdescribed above.

Process 700 may include additional aspects, such as any single aspect orany combination of aspects described below and/or in connection with oneor more other processes described elsewhere herein.

In a first aspect, the user device is determined to be operating underthe wet condition based at least in part on: receiving, from ahydrometer of the user device, a liquid measurement indicating that theuser device is operating under the wet condition.

In a second aspect, alone or in combination with the first aspect, theuser device is determined to be operating under the wet condition basedat least in part on: determining that a capacitive measurement of atouchscreen of the user interface satisfies a threshold measurementassociated with the user device being in a wet condition.

In a third aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the firstand second aspects, selecting the set of input components comprises:selecting, when the user device is determined to be operating under thewet condition, a first set of input components of the user interface,wherein the user interface is configured to control the user deviceusing first information from the first set of components, or selecting,when the user device is determined to not be operating under the wetcondition, a second set of input components of the user interface thatis different from the first set of input components, wherein the userinterface is configured to control the user device using secondinformation from the second set of components.

In a fourth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of thefirst through third aspects, the first set of input components includesan ultrasonic sensor to detect a user of the user device, and the secondset of input components include a capacitive touch sensor of atouchscreen of the user interface, and does not include the ultrasonicsensor, to detect a user of the user device.

In a fifth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the firstthrough fourth aspects, the user is detected based at least in part onat least one of: a passive acoustic measurement associated with apiezoelectric property of the ultrasonic sensor, or an active ultrasonicmeasurement associated with an ultrasonic signal transmitted by theultrasonic sensor and a reflected ultrasonic signal received by theultrasonic sensor.

In a sixth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the firstthrough fifth aspects, when the user device is determined to beoperating under the wet condition, the set of input components isselected to include an ultrasonic sensor and process 700 may includeconfiguring the user interface to enable selection and/or control of afunction of the user device using passive acoustic measurements of theultrasonic sensor.

In a seventh aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of thefirst through sixth aspects, configuring the user interface to enablethe selection and/or the control of the function comprises: configuringthe selection and/or control of the function according to referencetouch sequences in a function mapping corresponding to the function,wherein the reference touch sequences are maintained in a data structureof the user device; and activating control of the function using thepassive acoustic measurements from the ultrasonic sensor and thefunction mapping.

Although FIG. 7 shows example blocks of process 700, in some aspects,process 700 may include additional blocks, fewer blocks, differentblocks, or differently arranged blocks than those depicted in FIG. 7 .Additionally, or alternatively, two or more of the blocks of process 700may be performed in parallel.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example process 800 performed, forexample, by a user device, in accordance with various aspects of thepresent disclosure. Example process 800 is an example where the userdevice (e.g., user device 110 and/or the like) performs operationsassociated with control under wet conditions.

As shown in FIG. 8 , in some aspects, process 800 may includedetermining whether a user device is potentially operating under a wetcondition (block 810). For example, the user device (e.g., usingprocessor 210, memory 215, storage component 220, input component 225,output component 230, communication interface 235, sensor 240,fingerprint scanner 245, and/or the like) may determine whether a userdevice is potentially operating under a wet condition, as describedabove.

As further shown in FIG. 8 , in some aspects, process 800 may includeconfiguring, based at least in part on whether the user device ispotentially operating under the wet condition, an ultrasonic sensor toreceive an ultrasonic measurement to detect when a user is attempting tounlock the user device (block 820). For example, the user device (e.g.,using processor 210, memory 215, storage component 220, input component225, output component 230, communication interface 235, sensor 240,fingerprint scanner 245, and/or the like) may configure, based at leastin part on whether the user device is potentially operating under thewet condition, an ultrasonic sensor to receive an ultrasonic measurementto detect when a user is attempting to unlock the user device, asdescribed above.

As further shown in FIG. 8 , in some aspects, process 800 may includecausing, based at least in part on receiving the ultrasonic measurementindicating that the user is attempting to unlock the user device, thefingerprint scanner to enable an authentication process to be performedbased at least in part on a scan of a finger of the user (block 830).For example, the user device (e.g., using processor 210, memory 215,storage component 220, input component 225, output component 230,communication interface 235, sensor 240, fingerprint scanner 245, and/orthe like) may cause, based at least in part on receiving the ultrasonicmeasurement indicating that the user is attempting to unlock the userdevice, the fingerprint scanner to enable an authentication process tobe performed based at least in part on a scan of a finger of the user,as described above.

Process 800 may include additional aspects, such as any single aspect orany combination of aspects described below and/or in connection with oneor more other processes described elsewhere herein.

In a first aspect, the ultrasonic measurement corresponds to, based atleast in part on whether the user device is potentially operating underthe wet condition, at least one of: a passive acoustic measurementassociated with a piezoelectric property of the ultrasonic sensor, or anactive ultrasonic measurement associated with an ultrasonic signal bythe ultrasonic sensor and a reflected ultrasonic signal received by theultrasonic sensor.

In a second aspect, alone or in combination with the first aspect, theultrasonic measurement corresponds to a passive acoustic measurementassociated with a piezoelectric property of the ultrasonic sensor andprocess 800 may include causing, based at least in part on the passiveacoustic measurement satisfying a threshold, the ultrasonic sensor toprovide an active ultrasonic measurement associated with locating theuser relative to the fingerprint scanner, and the active ultrasonicmeasurement is associated with a transmitted ultrasonic signal of theultrasonic sensor and a reflected ultrasonic signal received by theultrasonic sensor.

In a third aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the firstand second aspects, the ultrasonic sensor and the fingerprint scannerinclude a same set of sensing elements that are configured to: receivereflected ultrasonic signals to determine a presence or absence of thefinger of the user relative to the set of sensing elements, wherein thereflected ultrasonic signals are associated with an ultrasonic signaltransmitted by the ultrasonic sensor; and scan, using the set of sensingelements associated with the presence of the finger, the finger toobtain a biometric measurement of a fingerprint of the finger.

In a fourth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of thefirst through third aspects, process 800 includes receiving theultrasonic measurement; and determining that the ultrasonic measurementis associated with the user attempting to unlock the user device basedat least in part on the ultrasonic measurement including a passiveacoustic measurement of the ultrasonic sensor that is representative ofthe user pressing the finger of the user against a capacitive sensorassociated with the fingerprint scanner.

In a fifth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the firstthrough fourth aspects, process 800 includes determining that theultrasonic measurement is received under a wet condition, wherein thefingerprint scanner is being configured to perform the authenticationprocess to permit an unlock operation of the user device to be performedunder the wet condition.

In a sixth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the firstthrough fifth aspects, when determining whether the user device ispotentially operating under the wet condition, process 800 includesdetermining whether the user device is operating under a wet conditionbased at least in part on at least one of: a hydrometer measurement, acapacitive measurement is associating with the fingerprint scanner, oran operating condition of the user device.

Although FIG. 8 shows example blocks of process 800, in some aspects,process 800 may include additional blocks, fewer blocks, differentblocks, or differently arranged blocks than those depicted in FIG. 8 .Additionally, or alternatively, two or more of the blocks of process 800may be performed in parallel.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example process 900 performed, forexample, by a user device, in accordance with various aspects of thepresent disclosure. Example process 900 is an example where the userdevice (e.g., user device 110 and/or the like) performs operationsassociated with control under wet conditions.

As shown in FIG. 9 , in some aspects, process 900 may includedetermining that the user device is operating under a wet condition(block 910). For example, the user device (e.g., using processor 210,memory 215, storage component 220, input component 225, output component230, communication interface 235, sensor 240, fingerprint scanner 245,and/or the like) may determine that the user device is operating under awet condition, as described above.

As further shown in FIG. 9 , in some aspects, process 900 may includeselecting, based at least in part on the user device operating under thewet condition, a set of input components to control the user device,wherein the set of input components are selected from a plurality ofdifferent sets of input components of the user device (block 920). Forexample, the user device (e.g., using processor 210, memory 215, storagecomponent 220, input component 225, output component 230, communicationinterface 235, sensor 240, fingerprint scanner 245, and/or the like) mayselect, based at least in part on the user device operating under thewet condition, a set of input components to control the user device, asdescribed above. In some aspects, the set of input components areselected from a plurality of different sets of input components of theuser device.

As further shown in FIG. 9 , in some aspects, process 900 may includeconfiguring a user interface of the user device to operate in accordancewith inputs from the set of input components (block 930). For example,the user device (e.g., using processor 210, memory 215, storagecomponent 220, input component 225, output component 230, communicationinterface 235, sensor 240, fingerprint scanner 245, and/or the like) mayconfigure a user interface of the user device to operate in accordancewith inputs from the set of input components, as described above.

Process 900 may include additional aspects, such as any single aspect orany combination of aspects described below and/or in connection with oneor more other processes described elsewhere herein.

In a first aspect, process 900 includes receiving, from a hydrometer ofthe user device, a water measurement, wherein the user device is beingdetermined to be operating under the wet condition based at least inpart on the water measurement indicating that the user device isoperating under the wet condition.

In a second aspect, alone or in combination with the first aspect, thewet condition corresponds to the user device being underwater when thewater measurement satisfies an underwater threshold measurement.

In a third aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the firstand second aspects, process 900 includes receiving, from a capacitivetouch sensor of the user device, a capacitive measurement that isoutside of a threshold range of a baseline measurement of the capacitivetouch sensor, wherein the user device is being determined to beoperating under the wet condition based at least in part on thecapacitive measurement being outside of the threshold range of thebaseline measurement.

In a fourth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of thefirst through third aspects, the wet condition corresponds to thecapacitive touch sensor being wet when the capacitive measurement isoutside of the threshold range of the baseline measurement.

In a fifth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the firstthrough fourth aspects, process 900 includes selecting the set of inputcomponents to include an ultrasonic sensor for use during an unlockoperation of the user device to permit the user device to be unlockedwhen operating under the wet condition.

In a sixth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the firstthrough fifth aspects, process 900 includes selecting the set of inputcomponents to include an ultrasonic sensor for use during a user sessionof the user device to permit a function of the user device to becontrolled according to passive acoustic measurements of the ultrasonicsensor or active ultrasonic measurements of the ultrasonic sensor.

In a seventh aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of thefirst through sixth aspects, process 900 includes configuring control ofthe function according to reference touch sequences in a functionmapping corresponding to the function, wherein the reference is touchingsequences are maintained in a data structure of the user device and areassociated with individual operations of the function; and causing theuser device to perform an operation of the function when receivedpassive acoustic measurements of the ultrasonic sensor correspond to areference touch sequence associated with the operation.

Although FIG. 9 shows example blocks of process 900, in some aspects,process 900 may include additional blocks, fewer blocks, differentblocks, or differently arranged blocks than those depicted in FIG. 9 .Additionally, or alternatively, two or more of the blocks of process 900may be performed in parallel.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example process 1000 performed, forexample, by a user device, in accordance with various aspects of thepresent disclosure. Example process 1000 is an example where the userdevice (e.g., user device 110 and/or the like) performs operationsassociated with control under wet conditions.

As shown in FIG. 10 , in some aspects, process 1000 may include meaningfor determining whether a user device is operating under a wet condition(block 1010). For example, the user device (e.g., using processor 210,memory 215, storage component 220, input component 225, output component230, communication interface 235, sensor 240, fingerprint scanner 245,and/or the like) may means for determining whether a user device isoperating under a wet condition, as described above.

As further shown in FIG. 10 , in some aspects, process 1000 may includemeaning for configuring, when the user device is determined to beoperating under the wet condition, a user interface of the user deviceto be controlled using first information from a first set of inputcomponents (block 1020). For example, the user device (e.g., usingprocessor 210, memory 215, storage component 220, input component 225,output component 230, communication interface 235, sensor 240,fingerprint scanner 245, and/or the like) may means for configuring,when the user device is determined to be operating under the wetcondition, a user interface of the user device to be controlled usingfirst information from a first set of input components, as describedabove.

As further shown in FIG. 10 , in some aspects, process 1000 may includemeaning for configuring, when the user device is determined to not beoperating under the wet condition, the user interface to be controlledusing second information from a second set of input components that isdifferent from the first set of input components (block 1030). Forexample, the user device (e.g., using processor 210, memory 215, storagecomponent 220, input component 225, output component 230, communicationinterface 235, sensor 240, fingerprint scanner 245, and/or the like) maymeans for configuring, when the user device is determined to not beoperating under the wet condition, the user interface to be controlledusing second information from a second set of input components that isdifferent from the first set of input components, as described above.

Process 1000 may include additional aspects, such as any single aspector any combination of aspects described below and/or in connection withone or more other processes described elsewhere herein.

In a first aspect, the user device is determined to be operating underthe wet condition based at least in part on: receiving, from ahydrometer of the user device, a liquid measurement indicating that theuser device is operating under the wet condition.

In a second aspect, alone or in combination with the first aspect, theuser device is determined to be operating under the wet condition basedat least in part on: determining that a capacitive measurement of atouchscreen of the user interface satisfies a baseline measurementassociated with the user device being in a wet condition.

In a third aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the firstand second aspects, the first set of input components includes anultrasonic sensor for use in determining that a user is attempting toperform an unlock operation of the user device and the second set ofinput components includes a capacitive touch sensor for use indetermining that a user is attempting to perform an unlock operation ofthe user device.

In a fourth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of thefirst through third aspects, the first set of input components includesan ultrasonic sensor to provide passive acoustic measurements associatedwith selection and/or control of a function of the user device, and thesecond set of input components do not include the ultrasonic sensor forselection and/or control of the function of the user device.

In a fifth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the firstthrough fourth aspects, when the user device is determined to beoperating under the wet condition, the passive acoustic measurements arecompared with reference touch sequences associated with controlling thefunction of the user device, the reference touch sequences are stored ina function mapping in a data structure of the user device, and process1000 includes controlling the function according to the passive acousticmeasurements and the function mapping.

In a sixth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the firstthrough fifth aspects, a subset of input components is included withinthe first set of input components and the second set of inputcomponents, and process 1000 includes configuring, when the user deviceis determined to be operating under the wet condition, the subset ofinput components to control a first function of the user device, andconfiguring, when the user device is determined to not be operatingunder the wet condition, the subset of input components to control asecond function of the user device that is different from the firstfunction.

Although FIG. 10 shows example blocks of process 1000, in some aspects,process 1000 may include additional blocks, fewer blocks, differentblocks, or differently arranged blocks than those depicted in FIG. 10 .Additionally, or alternatively, two or more of the blocks of process1000 may be performed in parallel.

The foregoing disclosure provides illustration and description but isnot intended to be exhaustive or to limit the aspects to the preciseform disclosed. Modifications and variations may be made in light of theabove disclosure or may be acquired from practice of the aspects.

As used herein, the term “component” is intended to be broadly construedas hardware, firmware, and/or a combination of hardware and software. Asused herein, a processor is implemented in hardware, firmware, and/or acombination of hardware and software.

Some aspects are described herein in connection with thresholds. As usedherein, satisfying a threshold may refer to a value being greater thanthe threshold, greater than or equal to the threshold, less than thethreshold, less than or equal to the threshold, equal to the threshold,not equal to the threshold, and/or the like.

Even though particular combinations of features are recited in theclaims and/or disclosed in the specification, these combinations are notintended to limit the disclosure of various aspects. In fact, many ofthese features may be combined in ways not specifically recited in theclaims and/or disclosed in the specification. Although each dependentclaim listed below may directly depend on only one claim, the disclosureof various aspects includes each dependent claim in combination withevery other claim in the claim set. A phrase referring to “at least oneof” a list of items refers to any combination of those items, includingsingle members. As an example, “at least one of: a, b, or c” is intendedto cover a, b, c, a-b, a-c, b-c, and a-b-c, as well as any combinationwith multiples of the same element (e.g., a-a, a-a-a, a-a-b, a-a-c,a-b-b, a-c-c, b-b, b-b-b, b-b-c, c-c, and c-c-c or any other ordering ofa, b, and c).

No element, act, or instruction used herein should be construed ascritical or essential unless explicitly described as such. Also, as usedherein, the articles “a” and “an” are intended to include one or moreitems and may be used interchangeably with “one or more.” Further, asused herein, the article “the” is intended to include one or more itemsreferenced in connection with the article “the” and may be usedinterchangeably with “the one or more.” Furthermore, as used herein, theterms “set” and “group” are intended to include one or more items (e.g.,related items, unrelated items, a combination of related and unrelateditems, and/or the like), and may be used interchangeably with “one ormore.” Where only one item is intended, the phrase “only one” or similarlanguage is used. Also, as used herein, the terms “has,” “have,”“having,” and/or the like are intended to be open-ended terms. Further,the phrase “based on” is intended to mean “based at least in part on”unless explicitly stated otherwise. Also, as used herein, the term “or”is intended to be inclusive when used in a series and may be usedinterchangeably with “and/or,” unless explicitly stated otherwise (e.g.,if used in combination with “either” or “only one of”).

What is claimed is:
 1. A user device, comprising: a user interface that includes an ultrasonic sensor and a fingerprint scanner; one or more memories; and one or more processors communicatively coupled to the one or more memories, the one or more memories and the one or more processors configured to: determine whether the user device is potentially operating under a wet condition; configure, based at least in part on whether the user device is potentially operating under the wet condition, the ultrasonic sensor to receive an ultrasonic measurement to detect when a user is attempting to unlock the user device; determine that the ultrasonic measurement is received under the wet condition, and cause based at least in part on receiving the ultrasonic measurement indicating that the user is attempting to unlock the user device, the fingerprint scanner to enable an authentication process to be performed based at least in part on a scan of a finger of the user, wherein the fingerprint scanner is configured to perform the authentication process to permit an unlock operation of the user device to be performed under the wet condition.
 2. The user device of claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic measurement corresponds to at least one of: a passive acoustic measurement associated with a piezoelectric property of the ultrasonic sensor, or an active ultrasonic measurement associated with an ultrasonic signal by the ultrasonic sensor and a reflected ultrasonic signal received by the ultrasonic sensor.
 3. The user device of claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic measurement corresponds to a passive acoustic measurement associated with a piezoelectric property of the ultrasonic sensor, and wherein the one or more processors are configured to: cause, based at least in part on the passive acoustic measurement satisfying a threshold, the ultrasonic sensor to provide an active ultrasonic measurement associated with locating the user relative to the fingerprint scanner, wherein the active ultrasonic measurement is associated with a transmitted ultrasonic signal of the ultrasonic sensor and a reflected ultrasonic signal received by the ultrasonic sensor.
 4. The user device of claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic sensor and the fingerprint scanner include a same set of sensing elements that are configured to: receive reflected ultrasonic signals to determine a presence or absence of the finger of the user relative to the set of sensing elements, wherein the reflected ultrasonic signals are associated with an ultrasonic signal transmitted by the ultrasonic sensor; and scan, using the set of sensing elements associated with the presence of the finger, the finger to obtain a biometric measurement of a fingerprint of the finger.
 5. The user device of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are configured to: receive the ultrasonic measurement; and determine that the ultrasonic measurement is associated with the user attempting to unlock the user device based at least in part on the ultrasonic measurement including a passive acoustic measurement of the ultrasonic sensor that is representative of the user pressing the finger of the user against a capacitive sensor associated with the fingerprint scanner.
 6. The user device of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors, when determining whether the user device is potentially operating under the wet condition, are configured to: determine whether the user device is operating under the wet condition based at least in part on at least one of: a hydrometer measurement, a capacitive measurement associated with the fingerprint scanner, or an operating condition of the user device. 